CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 3

Maximus just exited the hotel's private dining room. He was having a dinner meeting with clients, and it went over the clock as the men insisted on drinking after the negotiation. He politely bid them goodbye for the night and said that everything was in the house. He had a few glasses of alcohol himself already, but he was mighty fine.

Right now, he was walking in the lobby with his secretary.

"Gelo, make sure that they all went home safe after having their drinks." He instructed his secretary as he looked at his wristwatch. He was tired for the whole day of work.

"Si, Signore. (Yes, sir.)" Gelo nodded, walking a little behind him.

"I'll stay in my room here for the night. You can go back and join them, but make sure to do what I've asked you." Max said and went ahead to the elevator. He had the master suite in the hotel as his own room whenever he planned to stay. It was his hotel after all.

"Si, Signore. Good night." His secretary nodded, and they both stopped in front of the elevator. Gelo waited for him to get inside the lift before turning around and setting out to work overtime for the boss.

After a few minutes, Max just entered his suite and immediately put down the briefcase on the sofa and went to his room to take off the business clothes he had on. He was ready to get freshened up inside the bathroom when his phone rang.

He sighed and reached for it at the nightstand. It was Gelo. His brows furrowed, thinking if there was any confusion in his instructions earlier. He answered it anyway.

"Is there any problem?" His tired greeting.

"S-signore." Gelo stuttered. He didn't know exactly how to deliver the information to his boss. "Signora Aurora is in the house."

In an instant, Max's breathing stopped. There was a short pause before he replied. "She's here in our hotel?" His heart started banging from thinking that she had actually visited him.

When he heard the news that they'd be having a concert in Italy, he was excited for it and he watched her on the stage with her group. It was the first time he witnessed her concert. And he'd thought that she would call him or arrange a meeting as she was still in the country but she didn't. Two days had passed and now she was in his hotel. He didn't have the balls to face her before but now that she was here, he couldn't just let the chance pass.

He cleared his throat, wanting to erase the thought. But it couldn't be. She doesn't even want to breathe the same air as his.

"Si, Signore. The manager informed me that she had checked in earlier. Approximately two hours ago. She'd be staying just this night."

Max took a deep breath. Of course, what did he expect? In everything they've gone through, she could have hated him then. And it could be that she was just there by chance. And she wouldn't be there as well if she knew that he owned the hotel. It was just a mere coincidence.

"What room is she in, and check the CCTV if she's gone out of her room. I'll get back to you shortly." He didn't wait for a response and hung up the call. He didn't know exactly why he asked those things. It just automatically came out of his lips. But deep down, he knew the reason, and there was no use denying it. He missed her.

He put down the phone and went inside the bathroom to take a quick shower before he got out again and… maybe go to her. See her up close this time after such a very, very long time.

After a few minutes, the moment he got out of the shower, he picked up his phone again and called Gelo. He put it back on the nightstand as he pressed the loudspeaker. He opened his wardrobe to choose clothing.

"Update, Gelo." He said when the other line answered.

He took out a dark green long-sleeved, button-down polo and black pants. He wanted to look simple and casual. He didn't comb his slightly long hair. He just pushed it back on top of his head, though some strands stubbornly fell to his eyebrows.

"Signore, she's in room 504. And she went out a little after 9:00. The CCTV caught her entering the bar, and she was there."

That made Max pause in wearing his wristwatch. He was now facing his full-body mirror. "Is she alone?" His jaw was set hard when his brain automatically thought of her being with someone. He resumed fixing the watch on his wrist and the folded collar of his polo.

"Si, Signore. She's alone."

He exhaled and felt a bit relieved from that. He turned around and grabbed his phone as he went out through the doors and from his suite. "Tighten the security in the place. Warn them to be wary of any suspicious individuals. There could be paparazzi. I don't want the place to be bothered by those people. I'm going down there right now. Thank you, Gelo." He ended the call and strode quickly down the hall and to the elevator.

Thoughts ran through his mind of why she was there. What she was doing was risky. She could be recognized by anyone. He hurried more in his footsteps. The hotel personnel nodded at him as they saw him around.

After just a few minutes, he stepped out of the elevator and met Gelo, waiting at the side.

"Have you told them already?" He asked, taking long strides in the direction of the bar. His assistant was trying to cope with his pace.

"Si, Signore Maximus."

He stopped at the entrance. The guards greeted them and opened the door.

"Go do what I asked you first this evening, Gelo. I'll take it here."

He nodded at him and went to the entrance of the restaurant. It was where the private dining rooms were located.

Max let himself into the bar, and eyes quickly raised in his way. Mostly women. He was used to those dreamy and appreciative gazes. He ignored them all as his eyes quickly scanned the surroundings. He should have asked Gelo where she was seated.

He moved through the aisles of round tables and booths. Waiters nod at him. There were already a lot of people inside but the dance floor wasn't crowded. A smooth country music was playing in the speakers. Then after another minute, he halted on his spot.

There. He saw her. Though it was just her back, but he knew that it was her. He could feel it as his heartbeat drowned out the sound and any noise around him. He started to approach the bar counter but he decided to go to the opposite side of the long table top. She might leave if he appeared all the sudden. He was dazed by just staring at her back figure. Her hourglass figured couldn't be denied by how tight her black dress was. Her small waist was accentuated enough.

He almost crashed to someone because he wasn't exactly looking to where he was going. He went to the left side, at the end of the counter. She was at the right.

The bartender's eyes widened in surprise upon seeing him. He was about to open his mouth to greet but he gestured for him to keep quiet. It was obvious that the kid was confused but nodded to comply with him.

Max sat at the stool. There were exactly four seats between them. And since he didn't drink that much alcohol earlier, he could still clearly see from afar. He risked a glance towards Aurora's direction. He quickly noticed that the bottle of clear gin was almost empty. A brandy glass and an ice bucket. There were some snacks in front of her too. And her eyes were squinting at the screen of her phone.

He bet she was already feeling the buzz. But he knew how damn stubborn she was. She'd push her limit sometimes and it looked like this would be one of those. He withdrew his gaze then and whispered to the bartender to fix him a drink. He didn't know why he was just sitting there. He'd missed her but he was hesitant to come near her. He grunted and decided that alcohol might just help him to have courage.

Aurora couldn't properly see what was on her screen anymore. She returned her phone to her purse and looked at the empty bottle in front of her.

"Merda." (Shit). She didn't realize that she had downed the whole bottle. So, that was why she was already feeling out of her skin. And, of course, she would easily get drunk because she wasn't moving at all to decrease the effect of the alcohol in her body by sweating. She pulled some cash from her purse clumsily and lay it on the countertop. She put a lot to make sure she paid everything. "Tenga il resto." (Keep the change)

And she could hear her slurred speech. Damn it. She went over her limit. So much for handling her alcohol.

She heard the bartender thanking her but she waved it off, not trusting her words anymore. Her eyes were almost half closed but she forced herself to stay alert, though she was slipping in her sobriety. She had to get to bed now.

Aurora hopped of the high stool and she staggered. She lost her balance but she held the edge of the counter top, only that she didn't have enough strength as it was devoured by the alcohol. But she gasped when her back hit something. She could have hit someone! That brought some sense into her.

A hand held her waist to steady her and she struggled to turn around. That someone gripped her arm and she was a bit alarmed from that. She doesn't want any stranger to touch her without permission.